How to plan a repaint while your family is still living at home

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The breakfast table is covered in homework, someone can't find their PE kit, and paint is peeling behind the kitchen door. A repaint has to fit around school runs, meals and bedtime, so the useful question is where everyone will be while each room is out of action.

Start with the rooms you can spare

A child's bedroom has to be ready for sleep, while the sitting room may be easy to give up for a day if there is somewhere else to play. Think about where the furniture can go as well. A room isn't really available if its contents are blocking the hallway.

Say you have a spare bedroom full of storage boxes and a busy kitchen that needs repainting. Doing the spare room first gives you somewhere to move the boxes before the kitchen work begins, and you can set up a temporary breakfast spot there while the kitchen is out of use. Keep access to the sink and cupboards if you will still need them.

Avoid starting several rooms at once unless the family has somewhere comfortable to spend the day. Keeping one familiar room untouched makes the disruption easier to live with. Check the family diary before you agree dates, too. A week of late school activities leaves very little energy for shifting furniture or putting a bedroom back together before bed.

Clear the space before the first coat

Move out whatever you can. Put toys and books into labelled boxes so the clear-up doesn't turn into a hunt for school things. If larger furniture has to stay, push it to the middle of the room and agree with the painter who will move it and who will cover it. Clear the window ledges as well.

Ask whether filling holes, sanding rough patches, protecting floors and painting skirting boards are part of the job. If you are painting the room yourself, plan that work before you open a tin.

Imagine a family who leaves the craft cupboard where it is because it is too heavy to move. Everything they need for an afternoon activity is now stuck behind dust sheets. It is better to take out the everyday things first and put them somewhere the children can reach without going into the work area.

Plan for drying and everyday traffic

Open the windows while you paint and follow the instructions on the tin for ventilation, drying and recoating. Leave enough time for the paint to dry before the furniture goes back, rather than promising the family a bedroom by a particular evening.

Keep children and pets out of the room while it is being painted and until it is dry. Think about the routes through the house, too. If the bathroom is beyond the room being painted, change the order of work or arrange access before anyone starts. Move the cat's food and water bowls before you shut the door.

Photo credit Andrew Itaga via Unsplash

Compare quotes against the real disruption

When you ask painters for quotes, show them the rooms and tell them the family will be staying at home. Get a fixed price in writing before work starts and check what it covers. One quote may include surface preparation while another leaves it to you. Ask which rooms will be unusable, whether the same crew will come back for each stage, and what clean-up happens before the furniture returns.

BrushUp Painting is an Australian firm in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, so it isn't an option for UK households, but its approach is a useful example of what to ask a local painter about. It quotes on site with one fixed price in writing, includes full prep, and uses the same crew from the first coat to the last. It also says furniture is moved back and the site swept afterwards. Those details matter when you are living around the work.

Say you have two quotes for the same bedrooms. The cheaper one leaves out preparation and doesn't say who moves the beds back. Ask for both points in writing before you compare the totals.

Bring each room back into use deliberately

Before the furniture goes back, check the painted surfaces and make sure the agreed clean-up has been done. Follow the tin's instructions before you hang anything on the walls. Keep the boxes for the next room together in one place, and move on only when the family has a usable space again.

A repaint around a family comes down to order: which room goes first, where things wait, and who puts them back. Settle those points before the first coat and the painting itself is much easier to schedule.

How to ditch fast fashion and curate a wardrobe you love

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It's so easy to accumulate clothes that you’ll hardly ever wear. A tempting sale, a trending jacket on your social media feed, or just one more blouse from an online clothing platform can result in your wardrobe overflowing while you somehow still have nothing to wear. It can be hard to resist ‘fast fashion’, but the good news is that more and more shoppers are becoming interested in buying less and choosing more carefully. Read on for some practical tips on building a wardrobe you'll actually enjoy wearing while reducing unnecessary spending and waste.

Beyond the bargain price: The real impact of fast fashion

Fast fashion is all about producing affordable clothing quickly to meet changing trends.

Yes, those low prices are attractive, but constantly buying cheap items contributes to textile waste, resource consumption and stuffed wardrobes. And don’t forget the personal cost. That £15 dress bought for a single girls' night out isn't much of a bargain if it spends the next two years at the back of your closet. Before shopping, look through your wardrobe. You might discover three nearly identical jumpers or jeans you've completely forgotten about.

How to curate a wardrobe that works for you 

You don't need to throw everything away before starting your curation journey. Just look at which clothes you instinctively reach for on a regular basis. A favourite pair of jeans, comfortable boots and a couple of well-fitting shirts can easily form the foundation of a capsule wardrobe. Create a few outfits using what you already own before buying anything new. If you have kids, using this approach for their clothing can save money and simplify busy mornings – plus, it will help them understand that clothes don't need replacing just because something different becomes fashionable.

Photo credit Perry Merrity II via Unsplash

The joy of second-hand shopping

If you want unique clothing that reflects your personality, look beyond the high street. For example, second-hand shopping (local charity shops, vintage boutiques, online marketplaces) provides almost endless opportunities to find interesting pieces without contributing to demand for new production. With a bit of effort and a discerning eye, you can find everything from wool coats to leather handbags. And pawnbrokers in London are an excellent option for distinctive pre-owned jewellery and accessories at reasonable prices. Just be sure to examine condition, check measurements and compare prices before buying - that stunning vintage bracelet is only a worthwhile purchase if you'll actually wear it.

Choose fashion items that fit your life

Instagram will show you endless reels of dresses in glamourous locales, but a wardrobe should suit your lifestyle, not follow an algorithm. If you spend most weekends outdoors, you’ll need practical knitwear or sturdy jackets rather than delicate party clothes. Then, look after your favourites by following washing instructions, repairing loose buttons and storing garments properly. And make mindful consumption part of family life by getting kids involved in sorting through outgrown clothes and passing them on to relatives or friends.

A sustainable wardrobe with clothes you love

Moving away from fast fashion doesn't mean giving up shopping or personal style. Just be more deliberate when buying clothes, rediscover old favourites and pick pieces you'll want to keep. Start with one small change (such as buying second-hand) and over time, you’ll have a wardrobe that's useful, individual and environmentally conscious.

When the morning routine becomes a mountain: A mother's guide to navigating school anxiety

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Every parent knows the morning juggle. Getting everyone out of bed, fed, dressed, and out the front door with the correct bags is an achievement in itself. We accept the chaos as part of family life. But for a growing number of families, the morning routine goes far beyond missing PE kits and lost shoes. When a child is experiencing genuine school anxiety, the start of the day can become deeply distressing.

When a child is struggling to attend school, the focus naturally falls on the child. We desperately try to find out what is causing their anxiety and how we can get them through the school gates. But school refusal does not affect children in isolation. It can reshape the working lives, finances and mental health of entire families. And very often, it is mums who carry the heaviest emotional load.

The Hidden Emotional Toll on Mothers

If you have ever found yourself in tears in the hallway after a disastrous school drop-off, please know that you are not alone. New research commissioned by Minerva Virtual Academy highlights just how much of a toll this takes on parents behind closed doors.

The survey revealed the immense pressure placed on families:

• 28% of parents affected by school refusal said weekday mornings had become the most distressing part of family life.
• More than one in five had cried after an unsuccessful attempt to get their child into school.
• Almost a quarter said the experience had made them feel as though they were failing as a parent.

The statistics from the wider campaign are equally heartbreaking, showing that 21% of mothers reported their mental health had deteriorated severely due to the crisis. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure our children are thriving, and when the traditional school environment is actively causing them harm, it feels as though we are out of options.

The Waiting Game and Financial Strain

School refusal is sometimes viewed as a child simply deciding that they do not want to attend, but the reality is usually far more complicated. The parents surveyed reported anxiety, autism, ADHD, bullying and unmet additional needs as factors contributing to their child's difficulties.

Finding support is rarely a quick fix. In the research, 15% of parents said they were currently waiting for their child to receive a formal diagnosis for autism, ADHD or additional needs. A further 14% said their child had waited more than two years for a diagnosis or assessment.

During that incredibly stressful time, parents are still expected to manage each morning, support their child and keep the rest of family life moving. Because a distressed child cannot simply be left at the school gates, parents are forced to absorb the impact. 

Across all the families surveyed, 42% estimated that their household had lost up to £10,000 as a result of their child's attendance problems.

Photo credit Courtney Kirkland via Unsplash

Finding a Gentler Path

Mums often feel enormous pressure to keep their child in mainstream education, even when the current environment is causing serious distress. Admitting that a school setting is not working can feel like admitting defeat, but it is not. Listening to a child, asking what they need and exploring alternatives are responsible parenting decisions.

The main problem is that almost 90% of families said they had not been given clear guidance about alternative education options. When alternatives are discussed, traditional home education is often the default assumption. While homeschooling is a wonderful choice for some, it usually requires parents to take on significant responsibility for their child's learning. If you are already trying to balance your own mental health and household finances, becoming a full-time teacher might just add to the overwhelm.

If you want your child to continue receiving structured teaching, pastoral support and regular contact with education professionals, an online school may provide another option. At Minerva Virtual Academy, a structured online secondary school combines learning from home with live lessons, independent study and individual mentoring.

For some pupils, fewer sensory pressures or the ability to learn at their own pace can help them rebuild their confidence and relationship with education. Most importantly, choosing a flexible alternative takes the immense pressure off you, allowing you to return to being their mum rather than their daily enforcer.

About the author

Hugh Viney is the founder of Minerva Virtual Academy, a Department for Education-accredited online school for pupils aged 11 to 18. The school combines online lessons and self-paced study with weekly one-to-one mentoring and wellbeing support.

The art of mixing high street and vintage for a unique look

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Vintage fashion can be a wonderful source of novelty, and a great way to inject personality into your wardrobe. But finding vintage pieces that work well together can be tricky. In many cases, a hybrid approach, which brings together older items and modern ones, can represent the best way forward. But why is this, and how can we do it successfully?

Why Mix High Street and Vintage?

The high street comes with a number of distinct advantages. The clothes you find here come in many sizes, and they’re often highly versatile. On the other hand, second-hand items and vintage finds tend to be more affordable, and they’re inherently more sustainable. By bringing together items from either category, you can achieve a look that balances these advantages. At the same time, you might find that you have more scope to customise things to your liking.

Photo credit Becca McHaffie via Unsplash

Sourcing Your Pieces

Doing this properly often means knowing where to look. Many high-street outlets will have bargains for sale, prominently displayed; vintage outlets might contain bargains that aren’t so easily spotted. To give yourself the best chance of unearthing treasure, you’ll want to dig around in as many different places as possible. This means considering not just local shops, but online ones, too. You might find different versions of the same item in many different places. Maxi dresses, for example, are available everywhere.

Styling for a Unique Look

When you’re bringing together items from many different eras, the scope for contrast and interesting juxtaposition is considerable. You might pair items with different patterns, colours, or textures. A little bit of layering can be highly effective. Some knowledge of basic colour theory is always worthwhile, but you might find that you can achieve great results by parting with convention and theory. If an outfit looks like it works, then it’s fair to say that it does.

Expressing Your Personality Through Fashion

When you do it right, fashion isn’t just a means of looking fantastic. It’s also a means of expressing yourself. Every occasion might be a new opportunity to find inspiration. When you have a little bit of experience, and you’ve found a style that matches your personality and body, you’ll often find that you’re a little more comfortable when you’re out and about.

Make Your Wardrobe Your Own

Building up a collection isn’t a one-off endeavour, but a project that will be with you for the rest of your life. As your tastes and budget evolve, you can find new additions in a variety of places, from vintage sources to the high street. Just make sure that you occasionally sell the things that you aren’t using.

What do busy mums really need to start a home nail business?

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Photo credit Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash

TL;DR

• Launching a home studio requires accredited qualifications, local council compliance, and specialist liability insurance.
• High-grade hardware, including high-torque e-files and source-capture dust extraction units, ensures treatment safety and professional quality.
• Busy mothers can automate appointment scheduling, collect deposits upfront, and enforce cancellation policies using Booksy Biz.
• Clear client vetting protocols and strict house rules protect your home privacy and maintain uninterrupted family time.

In this guide, you will learn how to launch a compliant, profitable home nail business in the UK. Setting up a studio at home gives busy mothers a flexible schedule and lowers operational overhead. You must secure an accredited nail technician qualification, register with HMRC, and obtain professional liability insurance. Combining proper source-capture equipment, legal council permissions, and digital management tools establishes a safe environment that protects family life.

Setting Up a Home Studio, Hardware, and Booking Systems

Building a functional home studio requires a dedicated workspace, professional-tier hardware, and streamlined digital administration. Separating your commercial setup from your family area keeps your living space organized and safe.

Creating a Dedicated Home Workspace

A separate physical space isolates chemical vapors, fine dust, and client activity from your family life. Technicians often convert spare rooms, finished basements, or garden cabins to establish clear boundaries. Private entry points help maintain family privacy and prevent client movement through residential areas.

Workspaces need easy-to-clean, non-porous flooring to handle chemical spills and dust accumulation. Adequate room dimensions allow for ergonomic client seating, manicure desks, and storage units. Proper layout planning ensures that sanitation stations remain easily accessible during back-to-back treatments.

Investing in Professional Hardware and Consumables

High-grade hardware ensures precise product application, fast curing times, and physical safety. Manicure desks cost between £150 and £600, while specialized pedicure chairs can range from £1,500 to £5,500. High-efficiency LED daylight task lamps like Slimline models deliver accurate color rendering and reduce visual fatigue.

Professional UV/LED curing lamps cost between £200 and £400 to achieve complete polymerization. High-torque e-files cost approximately £300 to £400 and handle precise cuticle work and shaping. Source-capture dust collectors, such as Valentino Beauty Pure units, draw fine acrylic dust and micro-particulates out of your breathing zone.

Essential Studio Hardware and Estimated Cost

Professional Manicure Desk - £150 - £600

Pedicure Chairs (Optional) - £1,500 - £5,500

High-Torque E-File & Bits - £300 - £400

UV/LED Curing Lamps - £200 - £400

Source-Capture Dust Extractor - £300 - £450

Ongoing consumables require a monthly budget of £100 to £250+. This inventory includes builder gels, rubber bases, monomer liquids, acrylic powders, and sanitation fluids. You must match gel polish systems with manufacturer-approved curing lamps to prevent under-curing and chemical sensitivities.

Streamlining Bookings with Nail Salon Management Software

Digital tools handle time-consuming scheduling tasks so you can focus on clients and family life. Utilising nail salon management software like Booksy Biz automates online client appointments and handles non-refundable booking deposits. Digital scheduling platforms reduce phone interruptions and eliminate manual calendar updates during service hours.

Automatic deposit collection safeguards your income against sudden cancellations and no-shows. Software platforms can hide your exact address on public listings until you confirm a client identity. Automated appointment reminders send timing details directly to clients, reducing late arrivals and schedule overlaps.

Legal Compliance, Safety, and Insurance Standards

Operating a home-based nail salon in the UK requires adherence to local authority rules, tax obligations, and health standards. Following these legal frameworks protects your business from fines and ensures safe daily operations.

Navigating Licensing, Planning, and HMRC Requirements

You must register as self-employed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to report your business earnings. Self-employment tax rates and National Insurance contributions apply to net profits generated from your services. Systematic record-keeping via accounting tools tracks operational expenses like equipment, consumables, and software subscriptions for tax deductions.

Local municipal councils regulate business activities conducted within residential properties. You must check with your local council to confirm if a specific home occupation permit or planning permission is necessary. In addition, you must purchase specialized public and professional liability insurance to cover property damage or accidental client injuries.

Sanitation Protocols and Source-Capture Ventilation

Hospital-grade sanitation prevents cross-contamination and bacterial infections between appointments. Non-porous metal tools must undergo thorough cleaning and immersion in approved disinfectants like Barbicide. Disposable items, including lower-grit natural files and buffers, require single-use disposal per hygiene standards.

Proper source-capture ventilation extracts chemical fumes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and fine particulate matter at the workstation. Desk-mounted dust extraction units draw airborne particles away from your breathing zone before fumes circulate through your residence. Maintaining high air quality limits chemical exposure for both your household and your clients.

Photo credit Chelson Tamares via Unsplash

Client Vetting, Boundary Setting, and Financial Planning

Protecting personal time, securing advance payments, and managing capital investments ensure long-term business sustainability for home-based nail technicians. Clear boundaries prevent client overlap and safeguard your household's privacy.

Protecting Your Home and Time with Client Vetting and Policies

Digital vetting procedures verify client details before you release your full residential address. Hiding your exact physical location on public directories until a client books an appointment maintains family privacy. Preliminary consultations or identity confirmation steps screen new clients before their initial visit.

Strict house policies enforce professional boundaries and prevent schedule disruptions. Technicians communicate guidelines regarding punctuality, prohibition of extra guests, and child policies prior to appointments. Establishing a 48-hour cancellation policy alongside non-refundable booking deposits protects your working hours against unexpected income loss.

Managing Startup Investment and Recurring Inventory Budgets

Initial capital expenditures for a home studio typically range between £2,500 and £8,000 depending on workspace modifications and equipment choices. Educational qualifications, starter kits, and licensing fees form the initial foundation of your startup budget. Investing in high-grade curing lamps, ergonomic seating, and e-files consumes the remaining portion of initial capital.

Ongoing material costs require an allocation of 15% to 30% of monthly revenue to maintain consumable stocks. Builder gels, rubber bases, monomer fluids, and sanitation solutions require consistent replenishment. Establishing a dedicated emergency fund covers unexpected tool maintenance and protects net profit margins over time.

What licenses do I need to do nails from home legally in the UK?

You need an accredited qualification such as an NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Nail Technology, self-employment registration with HMRC, and specialized public liability insurance. You may also require a home occupation permit or specific local authority approval depending on your municipal council's zoning rules.

How much does it actually cost to start a home nail salon?

Initial startup costs range between £2,500 and £8,000, covering training, hardware, and initial stock. You must also reserve £100 to £250 per month for recurring consumables like gels, files, and sanitation solutions.

What is the difference between builder gel and regular gel polish?

Builder gel (or BIAB) features a high-viscosity formula designed to add structural strength, shape, and length to natural nails. Standard gel polish adds color and minor protection without offering structural reinforcement for weak nails.

How long does a structured builder gel appointment usually take?

A full service involving cuticle prep, structured builder gel application, and detailed nail art typically takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours. You should schedule a 15 to 30-minute buffer between appointments to sanitize tools and reset your desk.

Can I run a home nail business without a dedicated spare room?

You can operate using a converted garden cabin or finished cellar, provided the area offers adequate lighting, ventilation, and client access. Mobile setups or shared family rooms are unsuitable if you cannot isolate chemical vapors, fine dust, and sanitation equipment from daily household activities.

Christmas mug rugs using stashed fabric

A few months ago I set myself a crafting challenge. I batched up five craft projects that I wanted to complete by the end of the year, and I'm proud to say that I've now completed the final project!

These Christmas fabric mug rugs were a second craft to use up the Christmas fabric that I had in my fabric stash. I really liked the fabric, but I had been struggling to find something to make with it. Last week I made some simple drawstring gift bags, and for these patchwork fabric coasters I used the remaining pieces along with some co-ordinating fabric.

I used the tutorial here - Super simple mug rug tutorial for beginners. It is indeed a very simple tutorial, and I found it easy to follow. 

To prep the craft I cut out my fabric into strips and chose a fabric for the backing and some plain cotton for the batting. I'm terrible at cutting fabric neatly so you'll see that my strips don't line up perfectly at all, but I try not to let it bother me!

I made four coasters and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. I love the different colours, and even though they aren't as beautiful as the ones in the tutorial, my sewing machine skills are definitely improving with each sewing project that I try. 

This was the final project that I had prepared. I loved this way of crafting, I found it really easy to get on with something when it was all ready to go, and I'm pleased to have found a use for some of the things that I was stashing. I'm definitely going to be doing this again with another set of crafts, I'm thinking ahead to the new year and what I might like to work on next.

Review - Christmas Candy Stand miniature house kit from Rolife

I was sent this miniature Rolife craft kit in exchange for a review

I always love crafting for Christmas, and so I was delighted to be given the opportunity to review a Christmas themed miniature crafting kit from Rolife. I chose to build the Christmas Candy Stand, which will make an ideal companion for the Christmas themed Miniature Gingerbread House which I reviewed last year.

The Christmas Candy Stand kit is a two star difficulty kit with a suggested build time of around 2-3 hours. I would say that this is accurate, and I was able to complete most of the kit over an uninterrupted evening. It was certainly a welcome relief after the rather more complicated Rolife Oxygen Oasis kit!

I enjoyed the fact that most of the construction materials in this set are wood and paper, and the kit doesn't contain too much plastic. All you need for the build in addition to the kit contents are two AA batteries for the lighting kit. Although the house is designed to be assembled using the supplied double sided tape, I did find that I preferred to use stronger glue in several places. This will ensure that it survives being packed up and kept in storage from year to year.

Most of the parts in the kit are supplied as wooden sheets, with pieces that need to be pressed out. You need to take care here as some of them are a little fiddly, especially from the thinner wooden sheets. There are also pre-cut paper pieces, stickers, and tiny plastic, wooden and metal components. The smaller parts are packaged inside numbered bags, and it's best not to remove them from the bags until you need them. If you get in a muddle there is a parts guide to help identify individual pieces.

As with many Rolife kits, the first step is to put together some of the smaller elements that will go inside the house. In this case you work on the counter which goes along the front of the shop, and various shelves and display items. This is where you really appreciate all the tiny details that go into the build, even things that won't be easy to spot once fully assembled! 

Here you can see the front counter, and the small shelves and display units that will be filled later on. It's a good idea to have a place to store these items until you need them - the upturned lid of the box is ideal.

Next you assemble the walls and roof. These pieces are larger and made of thicker wood to make them more sturdy. This is my favourite part of the assembly, because you can start to get a feel for the dimensions of the finished house. At this point the lamp and wires have been installed underneath the snowflake themed roof, and I love the tubes of sweets along the back wall. They are really cleverly made with printed rolled paper inside.

These pieces are then slotted together to form the main structure. At this point the battery box is also installed and hidden underneath the counter with the wires neatly tucked away down the sides. 

Finally the remaining pieces are assembled and everything is firmly stuck into place. There are some lovely details in this kit. The gorgeous little sweet bags are made using some of the plastic packaging from the sticker sheet and filled with little sweets which are cut from a longer section of extruded plastic, it's very clever. There are tiny lollipops made by gluing beads to plastic tubes, and cardboard gift boxes and pouches.

The completed kit is a gorgeous little sweet shop packed full of delicious Christmas treats. It's a great addition to my Christmas decor, and was a real pleasure to put together. 

I love how it looks next to the Gingerbread House Miniature Kit, and both kits will be proudly displayed on my sideboard this year!

If you are looking for more Christmas themed crafting kits from Rolife then you might also like these:

Miniature Gingerbread House kit from Rolife

Christmas 3D frame miniature kits from Rolife

A craft supply de-stash - simple Christmas drawstring gift bags

Earlier this Autumn I set myself a personal challenge to batch up five craft projects, with the intention of completing them by the end of the year. I'm pleased to say that it's going really well, and I've now completed project number four - some Christmas fabric gift bags.

This Christmas fabric has been in my stash for so long that I can't even remember buying it! I didn't have a project in mind when I did, and so I really wanted to find a use for it that would mean I could appreciate it rather than just having it stuck in a drawer.

I'm not a particularly talented sewing machine user, but one thing that I can make is super simple gift bags. I decided that this was the perfect craft for this Christmas fabric, because it's a useful item that can be brought out year after year. It was also an opportunity to use some of my stashed Christmas ribbon.

I prepared five rectangles of fabric, with co-ordinating cotton and ribbons.

When I came to do the craft it was so easy to get started, it took less than an hour and that included ironing the fabric and remembering how to thread the sewing machine with different coloured cottons! They are super easy to make. All I do is sew a hem along one side for the ribbon, then sew the sides of the bag together. Ribbon is threaded through the hem using a safety pin, and I added a plastic toggle just because I have some in my stash. 

I now have five gift bags in lovely Christmas fabric that I can enjoy every year.

Double-sided Impossipuzzle 550 pieces - Baked beans and sprouts - Solving tips

Earlier this year I shared some solving tips for one of the puzzles that I had worked on in the Impossipuzzle series - Impossipuzzle Golf Balls and Tees. The other week I came across another in the series which I also had fun completing, and so I thought I'd share it here. 

This puzzle is called Impossipuzzle - Beans and Sprouts and it's another double-sided puzzle depicting baked beans on one side and Brussels sprouts on the other.

 

This 550 piece puzzle was made by Funtime Gifts. The box on my charity shop copy is a little faded as it must be fairly old, I think this range was released in the mid 2000s. There are a few others in the series, with one in particular that I'm still on the hunt for featuring sweets and candies. They are readily available on eBay, so if I don't find it on my charity shop trawls in the near future I will look there!

I think that the difficulty level on the different sides in this jigsaw is more similar than in the Golf Balls and Tees puzzle. However I think that the baked beans side is probably the most difficult side, and this is the one that I decided to do first!

I knew that the only way I could tackle this puzzle would be to start with a thorough sort of the pieces. I used my puzzle trays and sorted into the six main shape types, as well as the edge pieces. Then I started the puzzle by doing the edge, further sorting the edge pieces to help me as I went along. Even though it's double-sided, the two sides are so distinct that this doesn't increase the difficulty of the puzzle.

That was the easy bit done! Then it was time to lay out all the remaining pieces. You really do need a lot of space when you are working on a jigsaw like this. Although the puzzles in this series only have 550 pieces, they are large pieces, so the completed jigsaw is the same size as a standard 1000 piece jigsaw. This puzzle took up my entire dining room table while I was working on it.

The golf ball puzzle was easier to solve because it was a repeating pattern. This puzzle does have a repeat, but only the one, and I was only able to identify two pieces that were repeated. So this isn't really a strategy that you can use to solve it. It's also not much help to use the reference image, although I did find it helpful in some places at the very beginning. 

So the way that I worked on the puzzle was to work off groups of three. At the start you have four corners available to work on, and as you add more pieces you have more to go on. I would remove a section of three pieces and then hold it over every piece that might fit in the space. As you can imagine this was a very slow process, especially at first! Some sessions I would only place two or three pieces.

There are some tiny areas of the puzzle which are almost black, so I was able to find some pieces that went together by looking for these. But almost all of the puzzle was put together one piece at a time. There is some distinction in the sizes of the pieces which helped a little bit - some of the rows were composed entirely of taller pieces and these were easier to spot.

Obviously putting together the puzzle does get easier as you go along, because you have fewer pieces to search through. The first quarter or so was the most difficult, but after that I did feel as though I was speeding up, and I definitely had more of a sense of which piece was more likely to fit in a certain place. The last quarter was when I really started to enjoy it!

I wrote recently about why I enjoy difficult jigsaw puzzles, and I definitely get a far greater sense of satisfaction when I put the final piece into a jigsaw like this!

I was convinced that I had missing pieces all the way through, so it was a relief to find that the jigsaw was complete. One the one hand, someone that has completed a jigsaw like this is a dedicated puzzler, and so they are likely to take good care of their puzzles. But on the other hand, it's the sort of puzzle that could have been left out on a table for months on end, with plenty of opportunity for pieces to go walkabout!

Of course it's a double-sided puzzle so I had to flip it over to see the sprouts side. This side of the puzzle also only has the one repeat, but I do think that it looks easier. There is a greater variation in the colours, you could probably pick out the lighter sections quite easily and I think it would be easier to pick out the individual pieces. I'll definitely be trying it at some point!

This is my current collection of 'impossible' puzzles. So far, along with this one I've completed the World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle - Kittens and the Double-Sided Impossipuzzle Golf Balls and Tees. I think I'm going to work on the Wildlife puzzle at the bottom next and then save the double-sided Smarties until last - that one really does look like a challenge!

Making a room minimal starts with a mess - Stripping back, and sizing the skip hire

This is a collaborative post

The minimalist room always looks the same in photographs. Bare floorboards, plain walls, one good chair, a plant, and a great deal of light.

What the photographs never show is the week before, when the same room was full of ripped-out cupboards, rolled-up carpet and a fireplace surround leaning against the door. A minimal room is not just a room with fewer things in it. Very often it is a room that has had its own clutter taken out, the clutter built into the walls and floors by whoever lived there before. Getting to calm means a short spell of chaos first.

The clutter that's built in

Most people start a minimalist project with possessions, and that part is well covered. The harder part is the room itself, because so much of what makes a space feel busy is fixed in place.

Typical candidates, in roughly the order people notice them:

• Fitted wardrobes and alcove cupboards, usually chipboard or MDF, which shrink the room and rarely survive being taken out
• Carpet and underlay, often hiding perfectly good floorboards
• Dado rails, picture rails and wallpaper borders, which cut a wall into strips
• A fireplace surround and hearth, sometimes with an old gas fire still attached
• Boxing-in, pelmets, heavy curtain poles and shelving brackets
• Dated light fittings and the extra sockets and switches nobody uses

None of these is a big job on its own. Together they produce a surprising volume of waste from a single room, and that is where most minimalist makeovers stall: not at the deciding, but at the getting rid.

Sizing the skip hire for one room

The skip hire size guide from easySkip lists single-room renovations as the typical job for a 6-yard skip, which it gives as roughly 3.2 metres long, 1.6 metres wide and 1.2 metres high, or about 50 to 60 standard refuse bags. That holds for a room stripped of its fittings, but the Planning Portal draws a clear line at the chimney breast: planning permission is not needed to remove an internal one, but building regulations approval always applies, because it is part of the building's structure. Most skip hire firms will take the brick, hearth and surround that come out of a fireplace, but they are the heaviest things a room gives up, so they are worth mentioning when booking.

For a room reset without structural work, the useful exercise is to picture the waste rather than guess at it. A double wardrobe broken down flat, a roll of carpet and underlay, a fireplace surround and a few bags of rails and offcuts add up faster than they look. Breaking things down before loading makes more difference than people expect: a wardrobe carried out whole wastes most of its own volume in air.

Photo credit Haberdoedas II via Unsplash

What doesn't belong in the skip at all

Minimalism is supposed to mean less waste, not just less stuff, so it is worth being strict about what goes in:

• Anything with a plug or a gas pipe: Old light fittings, an electric fire and any other electrical item should go to the electrical recycling at a household recycling centre, not into a skip. A gas fire is a different matter again: the Health and Safety Executive says that anyone employed to work on gas appliances in a home must be a registered gas engineer, and disconnecting a fire so it can come out is gas work.
• Paint tins and solvents: Even a few half-used tins need the council's own route for paint and chemicals.
• Anything someone else could use: A freestanding chest of drawers, a mirror, a decent rug or a set of shelves has more life in it than a fitted cupboard ever will. Offering it locally first is the most minimalist decision in the whole project.
• Material for the craft box: Lengths of old picture rail, solid timber skirting offcuts, the better tiles from a surround and the brass fittings off old doors are exactly the kind of things that turn into frames, coasters and small projects later, if there is a plan for them. If there is no plan, they go.

Carpet, plasterboard and mattresses are worth checking with the skip firm before booking, since policies on them vary from one firm to another.

The order that keeps it calm

Stripping a room back goes much more smoothly with a simple sequence, especially with a family still living in the house.

• Empty the room first: Possessions out before anything is unscrewed, sorted into keep, give, sell and recycle as they go. This is the familiar minimalist part, and it is far easier in a room that is about to change.
• Book the skip for the strip-out itself: A short, concentrated weekend of work fills it efficiently and keeps the mess contained to a few days rather than a few weeks.
• Work from the top down: Light fittings and rails first, then cupboards and the fireplace, then the floor last, so nothing is dragged across boards you are hoping to keep.
• Leave the room empty for a week: Once it is stripped and cleaned, resist putting anything back immediately. Living with the empty space for a few days makes it much clearer what the room actually needs, which is usually less than was planned.

The room afterwards

When the skip has gone and the dust has settled, the room is quieter in a way that is hard to describe until you are standing in it. The floorboards are visible again, the walls are one colour, and the space holds only what was chosen to be there.

That is the real point of the mess. A minimal room is not created by buying the right chair. It is created by taking out everything that was in the way, and then being careful about what comes back in.

Felt crafting ideas for Halloween and Autumn

The calendar may say that it's Autumn, but the weather seems to be taking a while to catch up this year! Nevertheless, today I'm sharing some of my favourite felt crafts for some Autumn and Halloween themed felt crafting. 

Follow the links for full details of each craft!

Felt Autumn leaves

These embroidered felt Autumn leaves were really simple to make using scraps of felt and tiny beads. I've displayed them in several ways - in the past I have gathered them together in a shallow bowl, and this year I have strung them on a length of cord across the mantlepiece using tiny wooden pegs. They measure around 10cm in height and I had a lot of fun varying the colour combinations and embroidery details.

Halloween felt bunting with ribbon and buttons

This homemade Halloween felt bunting was a real craft supply de-stashing project. I used large felt triangles for the background, then I designed each pendant individually using scraps of felt, ribbon, beads and buttons. I love putting it out each Halloween, often with a few fairy lights.

Colourful stuffed felt sugar skulls

These felt sugar skull Halloween decorations are another great project to use up those crafty bits and pieces in your stash. The basic skull design can be decorated in all sorts of creative ways using beads, buttons, ribbons, sequins - all sorts of craft materials that you have lying around! They can be displayed in a bowl, lined up on a shelf, or you can add a small hanging loop. I chose white for the background, but you could make them in all sorts of colours and sizes.

Simple felt stuffed pumpkins for Autumn decor

These stuffed felt pumpkins were so simple and quick to sew together, and they look wonderful heaped together for an Autumn display. I used a gold cord which really sparkles, and you can really get creative with different colours and shades of felt.

Halloween felt garland bunting

This Halloween felt garland is so easy to make, it just takes a little bit of time to cut out all the tiny shapes! They are strung together using a sewing machine and embellished with sequins.

Make a monster felt kit for toddlers

Finally, this make a monster kit busy bag was one of the earliest crafts that I shared on this blog! All you need to do is cut out some monster themed shapes from felt, add in a few other bits and pieces, and you have a sweet little busy bag craft for your little ones!

Working on a super difficult jigsaw puzzle

Earlier this year I shared my experience working on the World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle - Kittens edition. This was a puzzle that I received as a gift when I was a teenager and had completed several times over the years. It's quite a challenge, although in my blog post I describe some ways to help solve it.

I love to browse charity shops for secondhand jigsaw puzzles, and so I thought I'd start keeping an eye out for some of the other puzzles in the series. There are loads and I have no intention of collecting them all, especially as many of the images don't really appeal to me - I'm not keen on cartoon puzzles and I'm selective about photographic puzzles. But I thought it would be nice to have a small collection of the ones with an image that I do like.

My Mum is helping with the hunt too, and she recently found me this one - Impossipuzzle Golf Balls and Tees. I've only solved the golf balls side which actually wasn't too difficult - however the tees side looks very challenging!

Recently I had a very successful charity shop haul and picked up another three puzzles to add to my growing collection. Two are from the World's Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle series and my favourite is an image entirely composed of Smarties. I passed over this one in a charity shop a couple of years ago and later regretted it, so I was really pleased to find another one. The other puzzle is similar to the kittens jigsaw and features a variety of different animals.

The third puzzle I bought is also from the Impossipuzzle series, and it's the one that I decided to start with. Baked Beans on one side and Brussels Sprouts on the other! It's very much a puzzle that needs to be fully shape sorted and completed piece by piece, so it's going to be my jigsaw companion for a little while yet.

I was working on it last night, placing a piece every five to ten minutes or so, and my son asked me whether I was actually enjoying it. Usually he sees me work on jigsaws with a pleasant picture that aren't too difficult and can be completed in a couple of days.

I realised that yes, even though it's very slow going and can be frustrating at times, working on a more difficult puzzle like this is really enjoyable. When you place a piece in any jigsaw you can get a small dopamine hit, but when you place a piece in a difficult jigsaw it's even more satisfying. And when it's finally completed you really feel as though you've achieved something that not everyone can (or would want to!) do.

When I'm putting together the puzzle I can really feel my brain working, and I feel that my skills have improved over time. If I have the chance to work uninterrupted then I can enter a 'flow state' and it helps me to feel calmer. 

I'm definitely not going to be exclusively working on 'impossible' jigsaw puzzles from now on, but if I spot one that appeals then I'll be picking it up to work on at some point!

Simple felt stuffed pumpkins for Halloween

Today I'm sharing another craft from my recent personal challenge to complete five batch prepped craft projects. This is my third craft - some simple stuffed felt pumpkins for Halloween. 

My pumpkins were made using a free pattern and tutorial from The Yellow Birdhouse - DIY Felt Pumpkins with Free Printable Pattern. It's a simple pattern, easy to follow, and there are plenty of ways that you could customise it. For example, I may re-visit it in the future using bolder colours and printing the pattern in different sizes. This website is filled with beautiful patterns, both free and for sale, and I'll definitely be looking for more ideas when I'm next sorting through my felt stash!

For all of my batched projects I wanted to use only materials that I already owned. So I've used green felt for the leaves instead of fabric, and I chose a thick gold thread for the decoration instead of brown twine. I was a little limited by the colours of the felt that I have remaining in my stash - I've made a few felt Halloween crafts over the years! However, along with plenty of grey and brown felt, I had just enough shades of orange felt to sew together a third pumpkin.

This project does require quite a lot of stuffing - not a problem for me as I have plenty saved from old pillows, but worth noting if you want to try this craft. The pumpkins were very quick to work up, and I love working with felt. The pieces are simply sewn together, the pumpkin is stuffed, then the stalk and leaf are attached with a glue gun. I really like the extra thread that is wrapped around the pumpkin and I think that my leftover Christmas gold cord works really well for a bit of sparkle.

Another craft complete, and another tiny bit of space made in my craft stash cupboard!